QUINO CHECKERSPOT BUTTERFLY HABITAT ASSESSMENT … · 2010. 11. 30. · E N O A E F E E E E E E E E...

QUINO CHECKERSPOT BUTTERFLY HABITAT ASSESSMENT

FOR THE TULE WIND PROJECT

McCain Valley, San Diego County, California

Prepared for:

Iberdrola Renewables 1125 NW Couch, Suite 700

Portland, OR 97209 Tel: (503) 796-7000 Contact: Jen Bradford

Prepared by:

605 Third Street

Encinitas, California 92024 Tel: (760) 942-5147 Contact: Mike Howard

JUNE 2008

Quino Checkerspot Butterfly Habitat Assessment

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CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................1 1.1 Background............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Quino Checkerspot Butterfly .................................................................................. 1 1.3 Study Purpose ......................................................................................................... 4

2 METHODS .........................................................................................................................4

3 RESULTS ...........................................................................................................................7 3.1 Physical Setting....................................................................................................... 7 3.2 Vegetation Communities ........................................................................................ 8 3.3 Butterfly Species................................................................................................... 11

4 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ...........................................................................17

5 REFERENCES.................................................................................................................19

APPENDICES

A Plant and Animal Species List B Field Notes

TABLES

1 Project Survey Summary .................................................................................................... 7 2 Vegetation Communities in the QCB Habitat Assessment Study Area ............................. 8 3 Butterfly Species Observed in the Study Area ................................................................. 12 4 Quino Checkerspot Nectar Plants Observed in the Study Area........................................ 16

FIGURES

1 Regional Map...................................................................................................................... 2 2 Vicinity Map ....................................................................................................................... 3 3 Vegetation Index Map......................................................................................................... 5 4a–4f Vegetation Communities ................................................................................... Map Pocket 5a QCB Habitat Assessment.................................................................................................. 14 5b QCB Habitat Assessment.................................................................................................. 15


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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Iberdrola Renewables (Iberdrola) is in the process of studying the potential to implement a wind energy project (the Tule Wind Project) in portions of the McCain Valley in eastern San Diego County, California. McCain Valley is located in southeastern San Diego County, approximately 60 miles east of the city of San Diego near the town of Boulevard (Figure 1).

The proposed Tule Wind Project (project) would include wind turbines, access roads, utility lines, and substations in the area. The proposed study area occurs on federally owned lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), state-owned lands, and Native American owned lands within the Campo, La Posta, and Cuyapaipe Reservations (Figure 2).

Dudek was requested to investigate the potential of the study area to support quino checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino; QCB) and provide recommendations to Iberdrola.

1.2 Quino Checkerspot Butterfly

The Quino checkerspot butterfly was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in January 1997 (USFWS 2003). Loss and degradation of habitat have been cited as the primary factors causing decline in this subspecies (Mattoni et al. 1997). In August 2003, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) completed the Recovery Plan for QCB. The recovery plan identified six recovery units that were delineated based on ecological and political factors. The Southeast San Diego Recovery Unit covers the southeastern portion of the proposed study area. The nearest documented occurrence of QCB is in the Jacumba Occurrence Complex, located approximately six miles southeast of the southeastern portion of the proposed study area.

The QCB is in the Lepidoptera family Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies) and the subfamily melitaeninae (checkerspots and fritillaires). QCB is a subspecies within the Edith’s checkerspot species group and is differentiated from other subspecies in this group by a variety of characteristics, including size, wing coloration, and larval and pupal phenotype (Mattoni et al. 1997).

The QCB life cycle typically includes one generation of adults per year, with a flight period from late January to early March and continuing as late as early May. The exact timing is dependent on the weather conditions (Emmel and Emmel 1973; USFWS 2003). Females are generally fertilized on the day they emerge from pupae and lay (oviposit) one or two egg clusters per day for most of their 10- to 14- day life span. Adult emergence is staggered, resulting in a one to two month flight period. QCB larvae can live for several years by undergoing periods of diapause between plant growing seasons.

Tule Wind Project - Quino Checkerspot Butterfly Habitat Assessment1

FIGURE

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FIGURETule Wind Project - Quino Checkerspot Butterfly Habitat AssessmentVicinity Map 2

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QCB females have been documented to oviposit eggs on five primary host plant species: dot-seed plantain (Plantago erecta), woolly plantain (Plantago patagonica), white snapdragon (Antirrhinum coulterianum), thread-leaved bird’s beak (Cordylanthus rigidus), and owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta). In some cases these plant species are important as secondary host plants, used as food sources by larval QCB. Numerous plants are used as nectar sources by QCB.

1.3 Study Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess proposed project “action areas” (i.e., the area encompassing the proposed turbine alignment, access roads, utility lines, and substations) for the presence of suitable habitat for QCB. The assessment is designed to identify areas of suitable habitat where future focused Quino surveys may be necessary and to exclude areas that are not considered suitable to support the species.

2 METHODS

A QCB habitat assessment and evaluation was conducted for the anticipated “action areas” within portions of the proposed Tule Wind Project site, which is where proposed project facilities and potential effects are anticipated. A majority of the proposed actions areas occur within the USFWS-designated QCB survey area (USFWS 2003). Areas that are excluded from the USFWS-designated QCB survey area in this region include the upper elevations of the Cuyapaipe Indian Reservation and the upper elevations of the ridge east of Thing Valley. Therefore, these areas were not included in the study area for this QCB habitat assessment. The study area included only the portions of the proposed study area where access was permitted (as directed by Iberdrola Renewables), which included the Cuyapaipe lands, BLM lands, and state lands. Therefore, Manzanita and Campo lands were not assessed. Within the study area lands, surveys covered a 1,000-foot-wide corridor along proposed turbine and access road alignments. Approximately 10 linear miles of proposed turbines and access roads occurs within the required QCB survey area on Cuyapaipe, BLM, and state land. Additionally, the study area included two substation areas (20 acres each) and a 100-foot-wide survey corridor along approximately 10 linear miles of McCain Valley Road. The location of all proposed alignments and facilities was based on geographic information system (GIS) data provided to Dudek by Iberdrola Renewables on April 2, 2008. The total habitat assessment study area included approximately 1,145 acres and is illustrated in Figure 3.

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3Tule Wind Project - Quino Checkerspot Butterfly Habitat Assessment

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Field surveys were generally conducted in teams of two biologists. Meandering transects were followed along the length of the survey corridors. The teams mapped vegetation communities on aerial photograph based field maps (1 inch = 300 foot scale) in the field following the Terrestrial Vegetation Communities of San Diego County Based on Holland’s Descriptions (Oberbuaer 1996), which is a regional vegetation classification system based on Holland (1986). Vegetation communities were evaluated in the field to determine if areas could be excluded from meeting the requirements for focused QCB surveys (USFWS 2002). Excluded areas include:

• Orchards, developed areas, or small in-fill parcels largely dominated by non-native vegetation

• Active agriculture fields

• Closed-canopy forests or riparian areas, dense chaparral, and small openings (less than an acre) completely enclosed within dense chaparral.

For chaparral communities, the vegetation was further classified as “Open” or “Closed” to describe whether it met the “dense” definition used to exclude areas from focused QCB surveys. The USFWS QCB survey protocol (2002) defines “dense chaparral” as “vegetation so thick that it is inaccessible to humans except by destruction of woody vegetation for at least 100 meters.”

Within each vegetation community, Dudek recorded the plant species present, including known QCB host plants and nectar sources. If host plant species were encountered, the perimeter of the polygon was to be marked and recorded using GPS. Based on the USFWS QCB survey protocol (2002), the target host plant species for this assessment included:

• Dot-seed plantain (Plantago erecta)

• Woolly plantain (Plantago patagonica)

• White snapdragon (Antirrhinum coulterianum)

• Thread-leaved bird’s beak (Cordylanthus rigidus)

• Owl’s clover (Castilleja exserta).

Additionally, Dudek recorded all butterfly species observed in the field. Incidental observations of other wildlife species were also recorded.

QCB habitat assessments and focused QCB surveys are timed to correspond with the blooming period of the host plant species and the flight season of the adult QCB. For this QCB habitat assessment, all surveys were conducted during the appropriate period to detect the target host plant species identified above. Dudek based the field effort on regional species observations reported on the USFWS Carlsbad Field Office 2008 Season Quino monitoring information website (USFWS 2008). The nearest monitoring information this season for host plants was from Campo, where white snapdragon was beginning to sprout on March 11. Based on this


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information and a reconnaissance visit to the area, the field data collection for the habitat assessment was scheduled from early to mid-April through mid-May. The 2008 flight season for adult QCB began in early March at lower elevations and in early April at higher elevations (the McCain Valley study area would be considered higher elevation). Adult QCB were observed in flight on April 20 at the Jacumba occurrence site. Surveys were conducted during a relatively average rainfall year. For the 2008 rainfall year (July 2007-June 2008), San Diego received approximately 7.25 inches of rain. Average precipitation for San Diego is approximately 10 inches per year. All surveys were conducted under mild conditions with sun to partial sun. Wind conditions varied from calm to 20 miles per hour. Table 1 provides a summary of the survey effort for this project.

Table 1 Project Survey Summary

2008

Surveyor QCB Permit No. 4/14 4/22 4/24 4/30 5/2 5/8 5/14

David Flietner TE-008031-0 X X Anita Hayworth, Ph.D. TE-781084-6 X Mike Howard — X X X X X Paul Lemons TE-051248-2 X X Brock Ortega TE-813545-6 X Travis Smith, Ph.D. — X X X

3 RESULTS

3.1 Physical Setting

The study area is primarily within the McCain Valley, which is a broad valley surrounded by the Laguna Mountains in the west and the In-Ko-Pah Mountains in the east. The terrain in the area ranges from valley bottoms to house-sized boulder-covered ridge lines. The elevation ranges across the study area from approximately 3,320 feet above mean sea level (MSL) at McCain Valley Road near Interstate 8 to approximately 4,400 feet above MSL along the northwestern portion of the study area above the Cottonwood Creek Campground.

The study area is crossed by several drainage systems within the Anza Borrego Hydrologic Unit. Tule Creek, Lark Canyon Creek, and Cranebrake Wash are the main drainages in the study area. In general, these drainages are intermittent water courses that are fed by numerous smaller ephemeral tributaries.

The soils in the study area are exclusively sandy granitic soils. The soils are characterized as loamy coarse sands and coarse sandy loams of the Kitchen Creek, La Posta, Mottsville, and Tollhouse soil series. These soils are derived from weathered granitic and granodiorite parent


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material and are all somewhat excessively drained to excessively drained. Surveys of the study area verified the presence of only sandy granitic soils with no observed inclusions.

The BLM manages large portions of the study area. Land uses in these areas include grazing, camping, off-highway vehicle use, and hunting. Land uses on private lands and Native American tribal lands are generally grazing and rural residential.

3.2 Vegetation Communities

The study area is covered predominantly by chaparral and scrub vegetation communities. Chaparral communities include granitic chamise chaparral, red shank chaparral, semi-desert chaparral, granitic southern mixed chaparral, and scrub oak chaparral. Scrub communities included flat-topped buckwheat and big sagebrush scrub. Other vegetation communities occurring in the study area included coast live oak woodland, non-native grassland, southern coast live oak riparian forest, and southern willow scrub. Other land cover included field/pasture, disturbed habitat, and urban/developed. A description of these communities is provided below. Table 2 provides a summary of the communities and acreages within the study area. The vegetation mapping for the study area is shown on Figures 4a-4f provided in the attached map pockets.

Table 2 Vegetation Communities in the QCB Habitat Assessment Study Area

Vegetation Community Community Code Map Code Acres

Big Sagebrush Scrub 35210 GBS 7.38 Coast Live Oak Woodland 71160 CLOW 17.96 Urban/Developed 12000 DEV 7.79 Disturbed Habitat 11300 DH 25.00 Field/Pasture 18310 AGR 0.34 Flat-Topped Buckwheat 37K00 BS 9.86 Granitic Chamise Chaparral – Closed CC-c 136.17 Granitic Chamise Chaparral – Open

37210 CC-o 53.57

Granitic Southern Mixed Chaparral – Closed SMX-c 106.45 Granitic Southern Mixed Chaparral - Open

37121 SMX-o 352.92

Non-Native Grassland 42200 NNG 0.57 Red Shank Chaparral 37300 RSC 13.52 Scrub Oak Chaparral – Closed SOC-c 6.02 Scrub Oak Chaparral – Open

37900 SOC-o 67.49

Semi-Desert Chaparral 37400 SDC 337.24 Southern Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest 61630 ORF 2.07 Southern Willow Scrub 63320 SWS 0.66 Total Acres 1,145.00 1Total may not sum due to rounding


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Big Sagebrush Scrub (35210) Big sagebrush scrub is characterized as being a moderately open shrubland consisting predominantly of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata). Other species occurring within big sagebrush include flat-topped buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium), goldfields (Lasthenia californica), and popcorn flower (Cryptantha angustifolia). It often occurs in or adjacent to floodplains and valley bottoms in the sandy transition to chaparral. Approximately 7.38 acres of big sagebrush scrub were mapped within the study area.

Coast Live Oak Woodland (71160) Coast live oak woodland is an evergreen woodland dominated by coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia). The understory is typically made up of grassland, scrub, or chaparral species, and the community often intergrades with mixed chaparral (Holland 1986). In the study area, coast live oak woodland is generally an open canopy woodland typically occurring in valley bottoms or along drainage courses. Approximately 17.96 acres of coast live oak woodland were mapped within the study area.

Urban/Developed (12000) Urban/developed generally refers to areas of highly modified lands, including urban development and roadways. In the study area, paved roadways are mapped as urban/developed. Approximately 7.79 acres of urban/developed were mapped within the study area.

Disturbed Habitat (11300) Disturbed habitat refers to areas that have been permanently altered by previous human activity that has eliminated future biological value of the land for most species. The native or naturalized vegetation is no longer present, and the land lacks habitat value for sensitive wildlife. In the study area, disturbed habitat consists of graded areas and unpaved roads. Approximately 25.00 acres of disturbed habitat were mapped within the study area.

Field/Pasture (18310) Field/pasture includes areas of low-intensity agriculture typically involving dry farming or livestock grazing. In the study area, a small area of field/pasture occurs along McCain Valley Road near Interstate 8 where livestock grazing occurs in a floodplain area. In general, this area is characterized by non-native grasses, including Bromus and Hordeum species, and non-native herbaceous species, including tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum) and red-stemmed filaree (Erodium cicutarium). Approximately 0.34 acre of field/pasture was mapped within the study area.

Flat-topped Buckwheat (37K00) Flat-topped buckwheat is a community dominated nearly exclusively by flat-topped buckwheat. This community is not described by Holland (1986) but is included in the San Diego County vegetation classification system in Oberbauer (1996). In the study area, this community is dominated by flat-topped buckwheat with occasional annual brome grasses, deerweed (Lotus


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scoparius), and bare ground. This community may develop after fires or under heavy grazing. This community often intergrades with semi-desert chaparral. Approximately 9.86 acres of flat-topped buckwheat were mapped within the study area.

Granitic Chamise Chaparral (37210) Granitic chamise chaparral is strongly dominated by chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) and is adapted to fire by stump sprouting. The herb layer is usually very sparse (Holland 1986). In the study area, chamise varied between approximately 50% to nearly 100% absolute cover, with a sparse herb layer of annual grasses and herbs. Other woody shrubs include cupleaf ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii var. perplexans), sugar bush (Rhus ovata), and Mexican manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens). Approximately 189.74 acres of granitic chamise chaparral were mapped within the study area (53.57 acres open; 136.17 acres closed).

Granitic Southern Mixed Chaparral (37121) Granitic southern mixed chaparral is a mixed assemblage of chaparral species with no clear dominant shrub species. In the study area, this community was further classified as closed or open to indicate shrub density. Perennial species common to this community include chamise, sugar bush, scrub oak (Quercus berberidifolia), Muller oak (Quercus cornelius-mulleri), holly-leaf redberry (Rhamnus ilicifolia), mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides), and Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera). Herbaceous species include San Diego gilia (Gilia diegensis), popcorn flower, sandy-soil suncup (Camissonia strigulosa), desert beauty (Linanthus bellus), Lemmon’s linanthus (Linanthus lemmonni), chia (Salvia columbariae), and goldfields. Approximately 459.37 acres of granitic southern mixed chaparral were mapped in the study area (352.92 acres open; 106.45 acres closed).

Non-native Grassland (42200) Non-native grasslands are typically dominated by exotic, annual grasses of Mediterranean origin. Only a small portion of the study area supports non-native grassland, and it occurs in association with disturbed areas along McCain Valley Road. Common species include cheat grass (Bromus tectorum), red brome (Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens), slender wild oat (Avena barbata), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), wild oat (Avena fatua), and sandy-soil suncup. Approximately 0.57 acre of non-native grassland occurs in the study area.

Red Shank Chaparral (37300) Red shank chaparral is comprised on nearly pure stands of red shank (Adenostoma sparsifolium) (Holland 1986). This community is similar to chamise chaparral but is typically taller and somewhat more open (Holland 1986). In the study area, red shank chaparral intergrades with chamise chaparral and scrub oak chaparral. Like chamise chaparral, the understory in red shank chaparral is sparse and comprised of flat-topped buckwheat, annual forbs, and brome grasses. Approximately 13.52 acres of red shank chaparral occurs in the study area. All of the red shank chaparral is considered open.


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Scrub Oak Chaparral (37900) Scrub oak chaparral is a dense, evergreen chaparral up to 20 feet tall (Holland 1986). In the study area, this community is dominated by scrub oak and Muller’s oak. Other occasional species in this community include chamise, red shank, and cupleaf ceanothus. The herb layer is similar to that of chamise chaparral and red shank chaparral communities. Approximately 73.51 acres of scrub oak chaparral occur in the study area (67.49 acres open; 6.02 acres closed).

Semi-Desert Chaparral (37400) Semi-desert chaparral is relatively open with widely spaced shrubs and openings supporting annuals. This community is similar to mixed chaparral but occurring in areas with hotter, drier summers with colder winters. In the study area, this community is characterized by abundant rock outcrops. Semi-desert intergrades with flat-topped buckwheat and the other chaparral communities. Perennial species common to this community include flat-top buckwheat, silver cholla (Cylindropuntia echinocarpus), Mojave yucca, and Mormon-tea (Ephedra californica). Scattered occasionally throughout this community are other common chaparral shrubs, including sugarbush, mountain mahogany, and scrub oak. Annual species observed in the openings of this community include goldfields, red-stemmed filare, golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum) thread-leafed eriastrum (Eriastrum filifolium), chia, desert beauty, Lemmon’s linanthus, San Diego gilia, popcorn flower, and red brome. Approximately 337.24 acres of semi-desert chaparral occur in the study area. All of the semi-desert chaparral is considered open.

Southern Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest (61310) Southern coast live oak riparian forest is a dense evergreen riparian community dominated by coast live oak. This community occurs along floodplains and drainages. In the study area, this community occurs in a single area where several drainages converge. In addition to coast live oak, this community supports arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis) and big sagebrush. Approximately 2.07 acres of southern coast live oak riparian forest occur in the study area.

Southern Willow Scrub (63320) Southern willow scrub is a dense, winter deciduous riparian community dominated by willows (Salix spp.). The understory is typically undeveloped due to the thickness of the canopy cover. Southern willow scrub is strongly associated with streams and floodplains. In the study area, this community occurs along the southern end of McCain Valley Road in a floodplain area near Interstate 8. This area supports a relatively open grouping of arroyo willow. Approximately 0.66 acres of southern willow scrub occur in the study area.

3.3 Butterfly Species

No QCB were observed during these surveys. A total of 11 butterfly species were observed during the surveys. These species are listed in Table 3.


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Table 3 Butterfly Species Observed in the Study Area

Scientific Name Common Name

Hesperiidae Skippers Erynnis funeralis funereal duskywing Lycaenidae Blue, Hairstreaks & Coppers Brephidium exile western pygmy blue Icaria acmon acmon acmon blue

Nymphalidae Brush-footed Butterflies Euphydryas chalcedona Chalcedon checkerspot Junonia coenia buckeye Vanessa annabella west coast lady Vanessa cardui painted lady

Peiridae Whites and Orangetips Anthocharis sara Sara orangetip Colias eurydice California dogface Pontia protodice common whiteRiodinidae Metalmarks Apodemia virgulti Behr's metalmark

Quino Checkerspot Habitat Assessment Suitable habitat for QCB is considered to be dictated primarily by vegetation/vegetation structure, availability of host plants/nectar sources, and other abiotic factors such as terrain and soils (Mattoni et al. 1997, USFWS 2003). Preferred habitat for QCB is characterized by barren areas with low-growing vegetation, often within grasslands, disturbed areas, and sparse scrub and chaparral. Suitable habitat for QCB would support one or more of the host plant species and nectar sources. Nectar sources include primarily small annual plant species that flower at the same time as the flight season for the adult QCB and have been documented in Mattoni et al. (1997) and USFWS (2003). Additionally, QCB suitable habitat is typically characterized by soil crusts, referred to as cryptogamic or cryptobiotic crusts, which act to reduce plant cover favoring the host and nectar plants. QCB often occupies landscapes with topographic relief, such as near hills or ridgelines, which facilitates their social “hill-topping” behavior.

The QCB Recovery Plan designates recovery units for the species and provides additional area-specific information for each unit (USFWS 2003). The Southeast San Diego Recovery Unit is centered on the Jacumba Occurrence Complex. For this area, the Recovery Plan identifies “Habitat Considerations” for the species in this region. Occupied suitable habitat in the Jacumba area occurs in open juniper woodlands with clay soil lenses and Plantago host plant species.


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Vegetation and Vegetation Structure Based on the published information on QCB suitable habitat, field observations of the vegetation communities in the study area, and the professional judgment of Dudek biologists, the following vegetation communities occurring within the study area are considered potentially suitable to support QCB based solely on vegetation and vegetation structure:

• Big Sagebrush Scrub

• Coast Live Oak Woodland

• Disturbed Habitat

• Field/Pasture

• Flat-Topped Buckwheat

• Granitic Chamise Chaparral – Open

• Granitic Southern Mixed Chaparral - Open

• Non-Native Grassland

• Red Shank Chaparral

• Scrub Oak Chaparral – Open

• Semi-Desert Chaparral

• Southern Willow Scrub.

Based on the published information on QCB suitable habitat, field observations of the vegetation communities in the study area, and the professional judgment of Dudek biologists, the following vegetation communities occurring within the study area are not considered potentially suitable for QCB based solely on vegetation and vegetation structure:

• Urban/Developed

• Granitic Chamise Chaparral – Closed

• Granitic Southern Mixed Chaparral – Closed

• Scrub Oak Chaparral – Closed

• Southern Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest.

Based on vegetation and vegetation structure, the total acreage of suitable vegetation for QCB within the study area is 886.51 acres. The total acreage of vegetation excluded from suitable habitat for QCB within the study area is 258.49 acres. Figures 5a–5b show the suitable habitat areas and excluded areas of the study area.

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5ATule Wind Project - Quino Checkerspot Butterfly Habitat Assessment

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5998-01 16 June 2008

Host Plants and Nectar Sources No host plants for QCB were observed in study area. The surveys were conducted during the appropriate season and during a period experiencing relatively typical normal rainfall; therefore, the species would have been detectable if present this season. The host plants are all annual species that may fluctuate in their presence and abundance from year to year but should have been observable given the phenology of other observed plant species in the area.

Numerous potential nectar source plant species were detected in the study area. Table 4 provides a list of plant species observed in the study area that have been documented as nectar sources for QCB (Mattoni et al. 1997, USFWS 2003). Other plant species have the potential to serve as nectar sources for QCB, and a complete list of the plant species recorded in the study area is provided in Appendix A. The field notes from the habitat assessment are provided in Appendix B.

Table 4 Quino Checkerspot Nectar Plants Observed in the Study Area

Scientific Name Common Name

STERACEAE SUNFLOWER FAMILY Lasthenia californica California goldfields BORAGINACEAE BORAGE FAMILY Cryptantha spp. popcorn flower FABACEAE PEA FAMILY Lotus scoparius deerweed HYDROPHYLLACEAE WATERLEAF FAMILY Eriodictyon trichocalyx ssp. trichocalyx Yerba Santa Phacelia spp. Phacelia LAMIACEAE MINT FAMILY Salvia columbariae chia ONAGRACEAE EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY Camissonia bistorta suncup Camissonia strigulosa sandysoil suncup POLEMONIACEAE PHLOX FAMILY Gilia diegensis San Diego gilia Linanthus bellus desert beauty Linanthus lemmoni Lemmon’s linanthus POLYGONACEAE BUCKWHEAT FAMILY Eriogonum faciculatum var. polifolium flat-topped buckwheat LILIACEAE LILY FAMILY Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum blue dicks

Abiotic Conditions In addition to vegetation/vegetation structure and host and nectar plants, soil characteristics are considered an important factor in habitat suitability for QCB. All soils in the study area are classified as loamy coarse sands or coarse sandy loams, and field observations verified these classifications. No clay lenses or other clay inclusions were observed in the study area. Additionally, no cryptogamic crusts were detected in the study area. The lack of clayey soils likely reduced the potential of the site to support host plants.


5998-01 17 June 2008

The terrain of the study area is characterized by valley bottoms and ridgelines with abundant rock outcrops. This terrain is conducive to “hill-topping” behavior.

The primary land use potentially affecting habitat suitability for QCB in the study area is grazing. According to the Recovery Plan (USFWS 2003), grazing can have a positive or negative effect on habitat quality for QCB depending on timing, intensity, and duration. Grazing can result in the destruction of cryptogamic crusts and the spread of invasive plant species but can also reduce non-native plant cover in favor of host/nectar plants. Grazing has been a long-term land use throughout McCain Valley. Based on observations during this study, grazing intensity was relatively low. No cryptogamic crusts occur in the study area, so grazing does not affect this habitat factor. In general, the study area is characterized by native vegetation communities with no strong infestation of non-native species. Therefore, grazing in the study area is not considered to be a factor in determining habitat suitability for QCB.

Climatic conditions have the potential to affect the abundance of both adult QCB and habitat quality for QCB. The 2006-2007 precipitation levels in San Diego County were well below average, and conditions for QCB were suboptimal. This season (2007-2008) was a near average year for precipitation, and abundant adult QCB and good QCB habitat conditions were observed across the species’ range (USFWS 2008).

4 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of this habitat assessment, the study area contains vegetation/vegetation structure potentially suitable to support QCB but lacks host plant species and appropriate soils. Although a large portion of the study area contains suitable vegetation, the lack of suitable soil characteristics in the study area (i.e., clays and crusts) substantially reduces habitat suitability for QCB. The sandy, decomposed granite substrate of the study area is not likely to support host plant species, and cryptogrammic crusts are not commonly associated with these soil types. The study area does support a number of nectar sources; however, QCB will utilize a number of relatively widespread plants as nectar sources, and the presence of these species is not a strong indicator of suitable habitat.

Although this study constitutes only a habitat assessment and not a focused protocol survey for QCB, no QCB were observed in the study area during the assessment. A total of 14 person-days were spent conducting the habitat assessment. All biologists conducting the assessment were capable of identifying QCB, and four of the six biologists conducting this assessment were experienced and permitted QCB biologists.

Several other recent habitat assessments or focused protocol surveys for QCB have been conducted within or adjacent to the study area. These studies include:


5998-01 18 June 2008

• Quino Checkerspot Butterfly Habitat Assessment for BLM Lands Managed by the El Centro Field Office. BLM 2005.

• Focused Survey Report for the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly, Lark Canyon Study Site. Tierra Environmental Services 2006.

• Quino Checkerspot Butterfly Survey Report for the 94.5-acre Rough Acres Ranch Property. Dudek 2008.

The BLM QCB Habitat Assessment (2005) used similar methods as this study and covered 13,858 acres managed by BLM in the McCain Valley, Round Mountain, and Table Mountain areas. For the portions of the BLM assessment also covered under this assessment, the results are consistent. The BLM study found no QCB, no host plants, and numerous potential nectar source species. The nearest host plant species documented in the BLM assessment was in the far eastern areas of McCain Valley, approximately one mile east of McCain Valley Road. The Table Mountain and Round Mountain areas supported the highest abundance of host plants. Based on their assessment, eastern McCain Valley, Table Mountain, and Round Mountain were identified as the “highest QCB habitat potential.” None of the areas studied by the BLM assessment that occur in the study area for this assessment were identified as the “highest QCB habitat potential.”

The focused QCB survey of the Lark Canyon area covered approximately 2,624 acres centered on the Lark Canyon Vehicle Area along McCain Valley Road (Tierra 2006). The focused survey covered portions of the study for this habitat assessment. No adult QCB or larval host plants were detected during the focused survey. The survey was conducted during a below average rainfall year; therefore, the survey could not definitively conclude that the Lark Canyon area cannot support the species.

A focused QCB survey was conducted for an approximately 95-acre linear study area on private parcels between Ribbonwood Road and McCain Valley Road (Dudek 2008). The study area for this focused survey is approximately one mile north of Interstate 8. No adult QCB or larval host plants were detected during the focused survey.

In addition to these studies, a focused QCB survey was conducted in 2008 along an alignment alternative of San Diego Gas and Electric’s (SDG&E) proposed Sunrise Powerlink Project. The study area for this focused survey included portions of McCain Valley Road north of Interstate 8 and an east-west corridor across the valley toward the Laguna Mountains. The results of this focused survey are not yet available.

In conclusion, the potential for the study area to support populations of QCB is considered low. Within the study area, approximately 258.49 acres were excluded and would not require any future focused surveys for QCB. Focused protocol level surveys may be required by the USFWS for proposed activities in the 886.51 acres of non-excluded areas in the study area. However, the results of this assessment indicate that it is unlikely that QCB would occur in these areas.


5998-01 19 June 2008

Further, the required survey area may be refined and reduced pending discussion with the USFWS regarding modified survey methodology.

5 REFERENCES

Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 2005. Quino Checkerspot Butterfly Habitat Assessment for BLM Lands Managed by the El Centro Field Office 2005.

Dudek. 2008. Quino Checkerspot Butterfly Survey Report for the 94.5-acre Rough Acres Ranch Property, County of San Diego, California, Permit Nos. TE051250, TE840619. Submitted to the USFWS.

Emmel, T.C. and J.F. Emmel. 1973. The Butterflies of Southern California. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Science Series No. 26. 148pp.

Holland, R.F. 1986. Preliminary Descriptions of the Terrestrial Natural Communities of California. State of California, The Resources Agency. October.

Mattoni, R. Pratt, G.F. Longcore, T.R., Emmel, J.F., and George, J. N. 1997 The endangered quino checkerspot butterfly, Euphydryas editha quino (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 34:99–118, 1995(1997): 99–118.

Oberbuaer, Thomas. 1996. Terrestrial Vegetation Communities of San Diego County Based on Holland’s Descriptions.

Tierra Environmental Services (Tierra). 2006. Focused Survey Report for the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly, Lark Canyon Study Site. Prepared for BLM, California Desert District Office. June 29.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2002a. Quino Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino) Survey Protocol Information. Carlsbad, California. February. 8 pp.

USFWS. 2003. Recovery Plan for the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino). Portland, Oregon. x + 179 pp. August 11.

USFWS. 2008. 2008 Season Quino Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino) Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office Reference Site Information. http://www.fws.gov/carlsbad/Rules/QuinoDocuments/Quino_htms/2008%20Quino%20monitoring%20info.htm

APPENDIX A PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES LIST

Appendix A Plant and Animal Species List

5998-01 A-1 June 2008

VASCULAR PLANT SPECIES

FERNS PTERIDACEAE - BRAKE FAMILY

Pellaea andromedifolia - coffee fern

CONIFERS EPHEDRACEAE - EPHEDRA FAMILY Ephedra viridis - mormon tea Ephedra californica – desert tea

ANGIOSPERMS (DICOTS) ANACARDIACEAE - SUMAC FAMILY Rhus ovata - sugar bush

Rhus trilobata - skunkbrush APIACEAE - CARROT FAMILY

Lomatium dasycarpum ssp. dasycarpum - woolly-fruit lomatium ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata – Big sagebrush Baccharis sergioloides – desert baccharis Chaenactis stevioides - desert pincushion Encelia californica - California encelia

Encelia farinosa - brittlebush Ericameria sp. - goldenbush

Ericameria linearifolia - interior goldenbush Eriophyllum confertiflorum - golden yarrow Eriophyllum wallacei – Wallace’s woolly sunflower Geraea viscida – sticky geraea

Gutierrezia californica - California matchweed Lasthenia californica - common goldfields Malacothrix californica - California desertdandelion Uropappus lindleyi - silver puffs

Appendix A (Continued)

5998-01 A-2 June 2008

BORAGINACEAE - BORAGE FAMILY Amsinckia menziesii -rancher’s fireweed Cryptantha angustifolia – popcorn flower Pectocarya penicillata- pectocarya Plagiobothrys sp. - popcornflower BRASSICACEAE - MUSTARD FAMILY Caulanthus heterophyllus var. heterophyllus - San Diego jewelflower

Sisymbrium altissimum - tumble mustard Thysanocarpus laciniatus - lacepod, fringepod

CACTACEAE - CACTUS FAMILY Cylindropuntia echinocarpus – silver cholla CRASSULACEAE - STONECROP FAMILY Crassula connata - pygmy-weed

Dudleya lanceolata – lanceleaf dudleya ERICACEAE - HEATH FAMILY Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. zacaensis - southern Eastwood manzanita

Arctostaphylos pungens – Mexican manzanita EUPHORBIACEAE - SPURGE FAMILY Chamaesyce sp. - spurge FABACEAE - PEA FAMILY Astragalus douglasii var. perstrictus – Jacumba milkvetch Lotus argophyllus var. argophyllus - silver-leaf lotus Lotus scoparius - deerweed

Lupinus bicolor - miniature lupine Lupinus concinnus - bajada lupine FAGACEAE - OAK FAMILY Quercus agrifolia – coast live oak

Quercus berberidifolia - scrub oak Quercus cornelius-mulleri – Muller’s oak GERANIACEAE - GERANIUM FAMILY * Erodium cicutarium - red-stemmed filaree/storksbill


5998-01 A-3 June 2008

HYDROPHYLLACEAE - WATERLEAF FAMILY Eriodictyon trichocalyx ssp. trichocalyx - yerba santa Phacelia distans – wild heliotrope LAMIACEAE - MINT FAMILY Salvia columbariae – chia NYCTAGINACEAE - FOUR O'CLOCK FAMILY Mirabilis multiflora var. pubescens – giant four o’clock ONAGRACEAE - EVENING-PRIMROSE FAMILY Camissonia strigulosa – sandy-soil sun cup Oenothera californica - California evening-primrose OROBANCHACEAE - BROOM-RAPE FAMILY Orobanche fasciculata – clustered broom-rape PAPAVERACEAE - POPPY FAMILY Dendromecon rigida - bush poppy Platystemon californicus - cream cups POLEMONIACEAE - PHLOX FAMILY Eriastrum filifolium – thread-leafed eriastrum Gilia diegensis – San Diego gilia Linanthus bellus – desert beauty Linanthus lemmonii – Lemmon’s linanthus Linanthus orcuttii – Orcutt’s linanthus POLYGONACEAE - BUCKWHEAT FAMILY Chorizanthe staticoides - Turkish rugging Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum – flat-topped buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium – flat-topped buckwheat

Eriogonum gracile - slender buckwheat PORTULACACEAE - PURSLANE FAMILY Calyptridium monandrum - pussypaws


5998-01 A-4 June 2008

RANUNCULACEAE - CROWFOOT FAMILY Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi - Parry's larkspur RHAMNACEAE - BUCKTHORN FAMILY Ceanothus cuneatus var. cuneatus - buck brush

Ceanothus greggii var. perplexans – cupleaf ceanothus Ceanothus leucodermis - chaparral whitethorn Rhamnus ilicifolia – holly-leaf redberry ROSACEAE - ROSE FAMILY Adenostoma fasciculatum – chamise Adenostoma sparsifolium - redshank Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides - mountain-mahogany Prunus fremontii – desert apricot SALICACEAE - WILLOW FAMILY Salix lasiolepis - arroyo willow SCROPHULARIACEAE - FIGWORT FAMILY Keckiella antirrhinoides var. antirrhinoides -yellow bush-penstemon

Penstemon centranthifolius - scarlet bugler Penstemon spectabilis - showy penstemon SOLANACEAE - NIGHTSHADE FAMILY Solanum umbelliferum - blue witch VISCACEAE - MISTLETOE FAMILY

Phoradendron villosum - oak mistletoe

ANGIOSPERMS (MONOCOTS) JUNCACEAE - RUSH FAMILY

Juncus mexicanus - Mexican rush LILIACEAE - LILY FAMILY Calochortus concolor - goldenbowl mariposa lily Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum - blue dicks Yucca schidigera - Mohave yucca


5998-01 A-5 June 2008

POACEAE - GRASS FAMILY * Avena fatua – wild oat * Avena barbata – slender wild oat * Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens - foxtail chess * Bromus tectorum – cheat grass * signifies introduced (non-native) species


5998-01 A-6 June 2008

WILDLIFE SPECIES -VERTEBRATES

REPTILES IGUANIDAE - IGUANID LIZARDS Gambelia copei – Cope’s leopard lizard Phrynosoma coronatum - coast horned lizard Sceloporus occidentalis - western fence lizard Sceloporus orcutti - granite spiny lizard Uta stansburiana - side-blotched lizard TEIIDAE - WHIPTAIL LIZARDS

Cnemidophorus tigris - western whiptail COLUBRIDAE - COLUBRID SNAKES Salvadora hexalepis - western patch-nosed snake VIPERIDAE - VIPERS Crotalus sp. - rattlesnake

BIRDS CATHARTIDAE - NEW WORLD VULTURES Cathartes aura - turkey vulture ACCIPITRIDAE - HAWKS Buteo jamaicensis - red-tailed hawk PHASIANIDAE - PHEASANTS & QUAILS Callipepla californica - California quail COLUMBIDAE - PIGEONS & DOVES Zenaida macroura - mourning dove TROCHILIDAE - HUMMINGBIRDS Calypte anna - Anna's hummingbird TYRANNIDAE - TYRANT FLYCATCHERS Myiarchus cinerascens - ash-throated flycatcher


5998-01 A-7 June 2008

Sayornis nigricans - black phoebe Tyrannus vociferans - Cassin's kingbird HIRUNDINIDAE - SWALLOWS Petrochelidon pyrrhonota - cliff swallow CORVIDAE - JAYS & CROWS Aphelocoma californica - western scrub-jay Corvus brachyrhynchos - American crow Corvus corax - common raven AEGITHALIDAE - BUSHTITS Psaltriparus minimus - bushtit TROGLODYTIDAE - WRENS Salpinctes obsoletus - rock wren SYLVIIDAE - GNATCATCHERS Polioptila caerulea - blue-gray gnatcatcher TIMALIIDAE - LAUGHINGTHRUSH AND WRENTIT Chamaea fasciata - wrentit MIMIDAE - THRASHERS Mimus polyglottos - northern mockingbird Toxostoma redivivum - California thrasher PARULIDAE - WOOD WARBLERS Dendroica towndsendi - Townsend's warbler Wilsonia pusilla - Wilson's warbler THRAUPIDAE - TANAGERS Piranga ludoviciana - western tanager EMBERIZIDAE - BUNTINGS & SPARROWS Amphispiza bilineata - black-throated sparrow Pipilo crissalis - California towhee Pipilo maculatus - spotted towhee Spizella atrogularis - black-chinned sparrow


5998-01 A-8 June 2008

ICTERIDAE - BLACKBIRDS & ORIOLES Icterus sp. - oriole FRINGILLIDAE - FINCHES Carduelis psaltria - lesser goldfinch

MAMMALS LEPORIDAE - HARES & RABBITS Lepus californicus - black-tailed jackrabbit Sylvilagus bachmani - brush rabbit Sylvilagus audubonii - desert cottontail SCIURIDAE - SQUIRRELS Ammospermophilus leucurus - white-tailed antelope squirrel Spermophilus beecheyi - California ground squirrel Tamias sp. - chipmunk MURIDAE - RATS & MICE

Neotoma lepida - desert woodrat CANIDAE - WOLVES & FOXES Canis latrans - coyote FELIDAE - CATS Felis concolor - mountain lion CERVIDAE - DEERS Odocoileus hemionus - mule deer


5998-01 A-9 June 2008

WILDLIFE SPECIES - INVERTEBRATES

BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS HESPERIIDAE - SKIPPERS Erynnis funeralis - funereal duskywing PIERIDAE - WHITES AND SULFURS Anthocharis sara – Sara’s orangetip Pontia protodice - checkered or common white Colias eurydice - California dogface RIODINIDAE - METALMARKS Apodemia mormo virgulti - Behr's metalmark LYCAENIDAE - BLUES, HAIRSTREAKS, & COPPERS Brephidium exile – western pygmy blue

Icaria acmon acmon - acmon blue NYMPHALIDAE - BRUSH-FOOTED BUTTERFLIES Euphydryas chalcedona – Chalcedon checkerspot Junonia coenia - buckeye

Vanessa annabella – west coast lady Vanessa cardui - painted lady

APPENDIX B FIELD NOTES

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